The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1887-04-13
WEDNESDAY
SOME CONSTITUTIONAL POINTS.

The departure OF the Australia yeSter-
day was a suggestive event. The noble
ship took away the Queen, the Heir
Apparent, and several magnates of the
Kingdom. We do not know who is
responsible for this exodus, but we hard
ly think that due consideration was
given to constitutional contingencies
which may arise from it. In brief, it
may be said that the King is not abso-
lutte, and that the King and his Minis
tiers have no possible control of public
affairs outside the Constitution. 1t is
easy to imagine contingencies in which
the absence of the Queen and Heir APP
parent might be fraught with danger
and inconvenience. 1t is to be hoped
that nothing of the kind may occur, but
if it should we would like to know what
precautions have been taken to guard
against it. In any well regulated Gov
eminent such things are not left at
loose ends. In this country We trust
that no "loose ends" may entangle the
orderly procedure of Government.
These are points which the country
has right to have made clear. Sup
pose the King should die or become in
capacitated for the performance of his
duties during the absence of the Queen
and Heir Apparent what would become
of the Government? Could it be law
fully conducted by Ministers, or would
it necessarily devolve upon the repre-
sentatives OF the treaty Powers?
Life and health are uncertain, and mat
tiers of such great Importance should not
be left to chance No official action in
this direction has been taken. This we
think is a grave if not fatal mistake.
Foreign travel may be desirable, but the
orderly conduct of home affairs is abso-
lutely essential.
The only hope that one can have is
that no such contingency may arise as
we have indicated, but what must be
said Of Government, which depends
upon the friendly patronage of the
Powers for it's Independent existence, to
leave such loop-hole for foreign inter-
sible to spread ones wings too wide, and
to paint them with too many hues. This
is an age of action. Sentiment cuts a
very insignificant figure in the world of
to-day; but the independence of the Ha-
waiian Kingdom is based upon senti-
ment. Yet in the face of this fact, it's
Government adventures upon the field
of action on the one hand, while it clings
to the skirts of sentiment on the other
The Samoan mission illustrates the one
phase of this contradictory policy; the
Queens foreign tour represents another.
We abstained from comments upon
this affair because we felt that they
would be Intellectual We knew full well
that those who controlled affairs neither
nor wanted to know constitu-
tional limitations, and we likewise knew !
hat it would be an idle task to attempt |
70 enforce those limit atoms Neverthe- |
less the Constitution is supreme, and |
The Government and all its parts must |
conform to first principles.
Perhaps it is as well that the Queen |
and the Heir Apparent have taken their
departure as they have done if it should |
bring Ministers to a consciousness of |
heir responsibility. This is no child's |
play. Neither are these remarks to be |
AIKEN as the output of political unrest.
The constitutional rulers of country |
cannot treat their trust as they would a
private estate, and if any one advised
he King to that effect he committed |
/ cardinal error. We cannot for mo-
nent suppose that the Sovereign would
.ct in this way without advice. 1t
would be assuming too much, and de-
spite what has sometimes been said to
he contrary the King has not shown
! disregard of the Constitution. But
t is now easy to imagine contingency
n which the Government would be
blocked by reason OF the want of con-
titutional ruler Again let us hope that
UGH contingency may not arise; how
yer, the defect is now irremediable.
Rh@OfEmR Match